Doctor's visit

I had a very important doctor's appt today. My parents from Odessa and my husband and kids were there with me. What a great support team!!! The doctor still maintains that the cancer originated in my pancreas. It is a 9cm lesion and that shocked me. The cancer could have been in my body for as long as 10 years. It is a VERY slow growing cancer, thank goodness and that is the good news. It is NOT the pancreatic cancer where you have months to live. My cancer is treatable and I will probably take SHOTS at HOME!!! I am so excited. My doctors were so excited.

What we are working on now are the symptoms that I am having from my pancreas and liver to make me feel better, then after all of my testing and MD Anderson, I will take my shots. I honestly feel that MDAnderson will come up with the same results. We are concentrating on my pancreas first, then my liver.

I'm just so excited about the news. I may not live till I'm 80 yrs. old, but you never know. God can make anything happen. So, keep the faith.

I appreciate your prayers, cards, and words of encouragement.

Susan

One Week Anniversay

One week ago, April 21, I found out I have cancer. It seems like forever. In one week, I've had more blood drawn and had scans, etc.and they are still not through. I'm totally exhausted. I went today to get in infusion for my high calcium levels. They said I should feel better tomorrow. I also had a lady from the Cancer Society talk to me about what they could do for me. I told her I've only known from one week, and I do not know what I need. I don't know anything about my treatments and if I did I do not know how I will respond. She was a principal that had breast cancer, so we have a lot in common. I hope I see her again. My next big appt with Dr. Bala is Friday, and I think my entire family will be with me. More and more info keeps coming in from the pathologist resports.

I went to school this morning, but couldn't last. I was shakey and sweaty, and those are symtoms of high calcium. it's like a little wine is good for you, but a lot of wine isn't. I will be back tomorrow!!! I will be ready to go full speed, so watch out kids!!

I had a former student respond to my blog yesterday, and it really got to me. His words of encouragement meant the world to me. It's really funny the way the kids just know your whole personality.

My parents are coming tomorrow and I'm like a little kid that is so excited to see her parents. I hope I look good tomorrow. I'll just have to use more Mary Kay. I've got the tools, so I'll use them.

Thank you so much for your words of encouragement and I really get a kick when someone describes my personality!! So funny!!! So far, I've just been down one day. And, I've only known for one week.

Busy Day

This week in school is TAKS week, so we have to keep all kids very quiet. They did very well, and we don't even have specials for three days, so we took them outside to play. They loved it.

After school, I went to get a mammogram. Lots of fun. Just checking everything in and on my body.

There is a very good reason why I am so tired. The doctor's office called me late this afternoon and said that my calcium levels are higher than they were last week. I've been told that when your calcium levels are high that it makes you very, very tired. So, tomorrow afternoon I go to get an infusion of "something." That will take a couple of hours.

Next, my doctor wanted me to get a test ASAP that takes nuclear radiation dye that comes from Europe but can't get here for the volcano.
The soonest I can get an appt. is May 17 & 18. Isn't it sad that the US is dependent on Europe to get nuclear dye for testing? I'm really learning a lot.

Today my kids made cards for me and they were so sweet. Some kids talked to me about my cancer and told me stories of people they knew who had cancer. They know it is serious and they were all concerned about me coming back next year. I told them that I would be back: better than ever.

I also had some Mary Kay business which made me feel like the old "Susan."

Thanks for your cards and prayers. They mean so much to me.

Long day

It has been an extremely busy and long day, but productive. Had a great day of teaching!! Travis took me to work today because I had set up a meeting with my student's parents to explain why I had been missing so much work. I told them I had been very sick and that last week I found out I had cancer. I hope they took the news well and that the school is trying to take care of their children's best interest. Travis drove me home and I was so glad, because it has been a long day and I am tired.

My gastro doctor called me this morning and his reports say that it is a slow growing tumor in my pancreas, which he says is great. I am still getting scans all over my body and tomorrow I go for a mammogram.
I would give anything to be able to say how my treatments are going to go but I know nothing right now. I could do Chemo or shots!!! I know I can beat this!!!

Reason for the Blog

April 21, I found out that I have cancer. Quite a surprise to say the least. I want to keep an account of what has happened and what is going to happen in the future.

Since January, my stomach hurt and I thought week after week that it would go away. It did not. I went to my gastro doctor and he did a CT scan on my stomach and intestines. What they did find was lesions on my liver and a lesion on my pancreas.

I was referred then to an Oncologist!! Never in my wildest dreams would I think at age 54 that I would be going to an Oncologist. Her name is Dr. Bala and I love her so much.

I went to Dr. Bala on Friday, April 23 and gave blood to the vampires and then talked to the doctor. Her news was not good. I was very tired and everything just hit me. It was weird, because it hit all of my family that day, that I actually have cancer.

Today was one of the best!!! Emily, Traci, Whitney, and my daughter Jennifer came to Marble Falls!! We sat on my front porch, went to the Bluebonnet for lunch. Traci wanted to go to True Value. Then we went to Fresh and Fruiti for "Ice Cream." Went back to my house to sit on the front porch. The weather was perfect!!

I look forward to many more days like this. Enjoying every moment!!

Last night I signed up to go to MD Anderson in Houston. If I don't try this I will regret it. Just waiting to hear from them.